How do I make a 32-bit monitor play in 256 colors?

[Night Driver]

I just picked up Activision's Atari 2600 Classics (w/ 30 awesome games!) and I was all psyched to play it- but it only works in 256 color mode and my computer (a Dell OptiPlex GX1 w/ pentium III) only shows the color options 16, 24 & 32 bit. WTF?

[Flojomojo]

I think you have the old 1995 version of the Activision pack, which was designed for Windows 95. Windows XP doesn't go that low without tweaking -- right click on the executable and choose "properties." There should be a "compatibility" tab that will allow you to run it in old-timey modes for Win95, 98, etc. including the 256 colors option.

 

What you really want is "Activision Anthology," which has over 50 games including a bunch of nice homebrew titles. I saw it on Amazon for $2.00 so there's really no excuse for not having it. It contains:

1. # Boxing
   
   
2. # Bridge
   
   
3. # Checkers
   
   
4. # Dragster
   
   
5. # Fishing Derby
   
   
6. # Skiing
   
   
7. # Freeway
   
   
8. # Ice Hockey
   
   
9. # Pitfall! 2: The Lost Caverns
   
   
10. # Robot Tank
    
    
11. # Kaboom!
    
    
12. # Demon Attack
    
    
13. # Laser Blast
    
    
14. # Tennis
    
    
15. # Atlantis
    
    
16. # Barnstorming
    
    
17. # Chopper Command
    
    
18. # Stampede
    
    
19. # Kabobber
    
    
20. # Thwocker
    
    
21. # Grand Prix
    
    
22. # Megamania: A Space Nightmare
    
    
23. # Pitfall!
    
    
24. # River Raid
    
    
25. # Tomcat F14
    
    
26. # River Raid 2
    
    
27. # Baseball
    
    
28. # Skyjinks
    
    
29. # Spider Fighter
    
    
30. # Starmaster
    
    
31. # Beamrider
    
    
32. # Moonsweeper
    
    
33. # Crackpots
    
    
34. # Decathlon
    
    
35. # Dolphin
    
    
36. # Enduro
    
    
37. # Frostbite
    
    
38. # Keystone Kapers
    
    
39. # Oink!
    
    
40. # Commando
    
    
41. # Plaque Attack
    
    
42. # Pressure Cooker
    
    
43. # Private Eye
    
    
44. # Titlematch Pro Wrestling
    
    
45. # Seaquest
    
    
46. # Space Shuttle: A Journey Into Space
    
    
47. # Cosmic Commuter
    
    
48. # Hero
    
    
49. # Atlantis 2
    
    
50. # Climber 5
    
    
51. # Cosmic Ark
    
    
52. # Dragonfire
    
    
53. # Video Euchre
    
    
54. # Fathom
    
    
55. # Fire Fighter
    
    
56. # Laser Gates
    
    
57. # No Escape!
    
    
58. # Okie
    
    
59. # Oystron
    
    
60. # Quick Step
    
    
61. # Shootin' Gallery
    
    
62. # Bloody Human Freeway
    
    
63. # Vault Assault
    
    
64. # Venetian Blinds
    
    
65. # Wing War
    
    
66. # Star Voyager
    
    
67. # Subterranea
    
    
68. # Trick Shot
    
    
69. # Skateboardin'
    
    
70. # Skeleton+
    
    
71. # Sky Patrol
    
    
72. # Solar Storm
    
    
73. # Space Treat Deluxe
    
    
74. # Riddle of the Sphinx
    
    
75. # Activision Prototype 1
    
    
76. # Activision Prototype 2
    
    

[aikainnet]

Right click on the icon, select "Properties". Find the Compatibility tab at the top of the screen. Check "Run in 256 colors" Option box.